Meckel's diverticulum other diagnostic studies

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sudarshana Datta, MD [2]

Diagnostic studies such as colonoscopy, double-balloon enteroscopy, laparoscopy, and exploratory laparotomy may help in the detection of symptomatic and asymptomatic Meckel’s diverticula. Screenings for bleeding disorders may be performed to rule out other sources of bleeding.

• Colonoscopy may be helpful in ruling out other sources of bleeding but is not used as an diagnostic tool.

• Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is a potentially useful tool for:^{[1][2][2][3][4][5][6][7][5][8][9]}
  • Diagnosis
  • As a guide for minimally invasive treatment
• In adults, DBE and Meckel’s scan have been found to have a comparable diagnostic accuracy.
• Types of DBE:
  • Prograde (per os)
  • Retrograde (per rectum)
  • Use of DBE:
    • Confirmation of the diagnosis of Meckel’s diverticulum based on suspicion from imaging studies such as CT, Meckel’s scan
    • Evaluation of the distal small bowel directly in patients with equivocal findings
    • Endoscopy
    • Confirmation of the diagnosis by direct vision
    • Detection of complications:
      • Mucosal ulceration
      • Active bleeding

• May display normal, bleeding, ulcerated and inverted Meckel’s diverticulum^[10][11][12]
• May be use to detect cause of gastrointestinal bleeding of uncertain origin.

• Means by which an incidental Meckel’s diverticulum is most commonly detected.
• May be a necessary modality to determine the source of bleeding if the results on diagnostic testing are equivocal or in case of hemodynamically unstable patients.

• It is necessary to screen for bleeding disorders to rule out other causes of GI bleeding.

Template:WH Template:WS